By Our Reporter
National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to Federal College of Education (Technical) Gombe in northeast part of the country, to reinstate sacked students, and review sanctions meted students who conducted a peaceful protest last year – failure to do that NANS said it will hold a mass rally leading to the closure of the school.
In June last year, students of the Institution staged a 2-day protest on campus over alleged lack of water and other basic amenities on campus.
In sanctioning the student actions, the school authorities expelled 29 students, withdrew 34 students admissions, and asked 11 other students to repeat the academic year.
The students were also asked to pay a compulsory fine of 5,000 naira, with an undertaken carrying the endorsement of their District Head that they will not involve in such act again.
The punishment had angered the students body, leading to the setting-up of an 8-man committee to engage relevant bodies to ensure the reinstatement of the students without any condition.
A statement by Mr, Akolo Raymond Eggon, spokesman of NANS President, “The rejection of the resolution was due to the inability of the investigatory committee set-up by the college’s management to involve NANS in the decision making as the mother union of all Nigerian students in Nigeria and Diaspora, denying the affected students their fundamental human right of fair trials.”
Below is the Press Release
NANS Rejects FCE Gombe Resolution On Expulsion, Withdrawal & Repeat of Students
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The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has rejected the resolution of the Federal College of Education Gombe on the expulsion of 29 students, withdrawal of 34 students admission and the 11 students to repeat the academic year as a result of a protest held last year.
Recall, in June 2016 the students of the aforementioned citadel of learning staged a 2-day peaceful protest over lack of water and other basic amenities within the school campus.
The rejection of the resolution was due to the inability of the investigatory committee set-up by the college’s management to involve NANS in the decision making as the mother union of all Nigerian students in Nigeria and Diaspora, denying the affected students their fundamental human right of fair trials.
Secondly, NANS rejected the resolution on the basic facts that the students were asked to pay a compulsory fine of 5,000 naira, with an undertaken and the endorsement of their district head that they will not involve themselves in such act again, also for paying accommodation charges despite the fact that the students has registered for the new academic session by paying all the necessary fees, the college went ahead to expel them.
With this action of the management, they are directly causing more problem and hampering the efforts of the Buhari-led FG to restore lasting peace in the region, at the time where insurgency penetrated the region due to high level of illiteracy, youths end up been expelled from the educational system, as we all believed that without education, there is no peace and in the absence of peace nothing can be achieved.
Regrettably, the expulsion of the students also came at a time where many Nigerian students are struggling to gain admissions into various tertiary institutions within and outside the country. We cannot fold our arms to this gross injustice and senselessness!
In view of this, NANS under the President Aruna Kadiri’s watch has set-up a committee to ensure that the resolution which in all facets was an act of “political victimisation” is completely reversed within 14-days.
The 8-man committee includes:
1. Comrade Shettima Umar, Vice President, National Affairs – Chairman/Leader of the delegation
2. Comrade Zakari Hashim, S.U.G President, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi -Member
3. Comrade Garkuwa Iliya Dogon Yaro, S.U.G Secretary General, Gombe State University -Member
4. Comrade Uzairu Lawal Garba Wase, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi -Member
5. Comrade Zyak Patience Yakubu, S.U.G Vice President, Federal College of Education Panshin, Plateau -Member
6. Comrade Abu Hanifa, S.U.G President, University of Maiduguri -Member
7. Comrade Muhyiddin A. Zubairu, S.U.G President, Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare -Member.
8. Comrade Zaidu Ibrahim, Audu Bako College of Agriculture Dambatta, Kano – Member
The committee led by the Vice President National Affairs shall work with management and relevant agencies to ensure that the rights and liberties of the affected students are full restored without conditions.
However, we want to state in clear terms that failure to meet our demand(s) within the 14-days ultimatum, it will be viewed by the Kadiri-led administration as a direct confrontation of NANS and a deliberate attempt to test our might, which President Kadiri will personally lead a protest for the complete shutdown of the school.
Lastly, I wish to reiterate President Kadiri’s administration commitment to the reinstatement of all politically victimized Nigerian students.
Wherever they exist, we shall deploy all at our disposal in ensuring their reinstatement. Restoring their rights and liberties is one of our main policy thrust.
An injury to one, is an injury to all. Viva Aluta!
Akolo Raymond Eggon
SSA on Media To The NANS President
Tuesday January 31, 2017
